TWO students from Hampstead school are fundraising in bid to make sure the future is bright for the orangutans of Borneo. Year 11 students Alexandra Hurst and Alexandra Horton want to buy a stretch of rainforest on the island to help protect the endangered

TWO students from Hampstead school are fundraising in bid to make sure the future is bright for the orangutans of Borneo.

Year 11 students Alexandra Hurst and Alexandra Horton want to buy a stretch of rainforest on the island to help protect the endangered species of ape.

Borneo's orang-utans are under threat of extinction because their rainforest home is being chopped down around them.

Alexandra Hurst, 15, said: "We started the campaign after a teacher at school went on a trip to Borneo and saw for himself the destruction taking place. He came back and told us how the orang-utans were under threat. We really thought we should try to do something about it."

So as a result of their science teacher's trip to the Far East the two girls founded the Hampstead School Rainforest Appeal.

With an acre of land going for just half a pence, the two girls are hoping to buy 2,000 acres at a cost of £1,000. Once they have bought the rainforest the land will be preserved, free from the threat of lumberjacks.

But their campaign is in desperate need of a boost because after a year of trying to raise fellow pupils' interest they are still hundreds of pounds short of their target.

She continued: "This is about helping the environment as well as helping the animals. We really care about this but maybe other people are not as bothered.

"We have had so many events but other pupils in the school were not really interested. We have done so many assemblies but only a few people turn up.

"So we had to leave it for a while but now we are trying to raise awareness outside the school."

On Saturday June 30 the two campaigners will set their stall out at Malorees junior school's annual summer fair in nearby Christchurch Avenue, Kilburn.

Homemade greeting cards and personally designed magnets will be on sale to raise money for the cause. There will also be games and a tombola.

If you would like to donate to their appeal you can contact the girls through Hampstead school on 020-7794 8133.